Founded in 1968, the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), the only federal institution of higher education located within the State of São Paulo stands out for its high level of skills of its faculty: 98.92% are doctors or masters . For the most part, teachers develop teaching, research and extension in an exclusive dedication.

The University has three campuses: the main is in San Carlos, a city located 235 km from state capital, and has 645 hectares, of which 105 thousand m2 of built area. 94 km far from São Carlos (and 170 km from the capital) is the campus of Araras, which offer undergraduate courses in Agricultural Engineering and Biotechnology and MSc in Agroecology and Rural Development. The campus has 230 acres and is 25 000 m2 in built-up areas.

The campuses of San Carlos and parrots have all the infrastructure necessary for the proper functioning of University activities. More than 250 laboratories, Community Library and Library Sector, four clinics, two theaters, three theaters, three auditoriums, gym , a sports park with 8 courts and two swimming pools, two university restaurants, snack bars 5, 85 classrooms and 376 vacancies in student housing.

Already, the new campus of Sorocaba, located near the 100 km highway João Leme dos Santos (SP-264), has about 700 thousand square meters, with buildings of Academic Management, Administrative, and 11 classrooms and teaching laboratories 8 computing, as well as University Restaurant and Library. The buildings, as well as all the academic activities of the unit, are governed by the principle of sustainable development.

The 32 academic departments at the University are divided into four centers: Center for Biological and Health Sciences (CCBS), Center for Science and Technology (CCET), Centre for Education and Human Sciences (CECH) and Center for Agricultural Sciences (CCA ).